Bird's nests in rafters

Hi folks,

I hesitated long about whether to post this thread here at all because I try to attract birds to my garden as much as possible. In fact, this doesn't relate to my garden so much as my house. For years I've had birds nesting in my rafters and I've never had the heart to do anything about them while there were obviously chicks – I just thought that once they flew the nest, that might be the time to have a clear out. But I've never actually noticed any quiet period. Now, I'm trying to use a box room as place of work and the racket from the birds is very disturbing. I think there are two nests, one at the front of the house, another at the back. I'm not sure which species it is, but I'll attach a photo. When perched on the roof, they give off a long series of throaty clicking not unlike dolphin clicks. I rather like this, it's just the squabbling, chirping and general sounds of movement in the rafters that is maddening.

All tips and thoughts appreciated.

Many thanks.

 

Lucky you to have starlings! There used to be hundreds of them here but I haven’t seen or heard one in years. Please humour them and keep them going for my sake.

 

Soffits! Is that what they are? Is that the same thing as eaves? (Spot the architect.)

They're extremely quarrelsome. Is there a time of year when one can tackle them? They never seem to go away.

A quick check on ChatGPT provides this info:

• Wildlife Protection Laws: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to damage or destroy active nests (those in use or being built), eggs, or young birds. Violations can result in fines of up to £5,000 or six months imprisonment.
  
  
• Timing: Nest removal is only legal when nests are inactive, typically outside the breeding season (winter months). Consulting a pest control professional is advisable to ensure compliance
  
  
  Sigh.

 

I think you have missed the boat, as they say.
Any holes where they get into the roof space needed plugging during the winter, its a bit late now.

 

Give them some music !
Rachmaninoff , Beethoven, Spice Girls , Abba, AC/DC, if all else fails Max Bygraves. You'll soon get requests from your neighbours.....

 

You forgot Des O'Connor.

 

Seagulls would be a lot worse.

 

Eek! We had the same problem in UK. The thing is, like house sparrows, they colonise so there won't just be one nest. The problem will get worse with each year that they're allowed access. The only permanent solution is to thoroughly block off the gaps under the eaves. Even then a determined bird can dislodge chunks of mortar! A quicker, easier method is a strip of fine metal mesh stapled at close spacing along the length of the eaves. It can also be moulded and stapled around obstacles.
Failing that, what about playing them the soundtrack from the Aristocats?

 

Don’t starlings emigrate in the winter?

So wonderful to have birds though, bit like weeds right flower in the right place, so feel your anguish.

I was thinking the other day, that I haven’t seen a song thrush for a very long time.

 

If starlings do emigrate the one in my back garden must have got left behind. I have been wondering where all his mates are - had quite a flock last year.

 

Most of them are residents in the UK, but some are migratory. According to the Woodland Trust:

“Despite being common throughout the UK, the starling population has declined dramatically since the 1980s. They are therefore a Red List bird of high conservation concern.”

 

The decline of songbirds and hedgehogs is dreadful and was so unnecessary with chemical firms desperate for profits and intensive farming the main culprits. Hope we can now reverse this trend in horticulture, sadly I accept the battle is lost in agriculture.

 

I had starlings in the loft in previous house. They would chatter in the early morning. I had someone put mesh to keep them out, but eventually they found their way in again. They enlarge any unevenness where the wall meets the soffits (below the fascias). Unfortunately you can't seal that off because the roof space normally needs airflow.
My only suggestion would be to add the mesh but at the same time put up plenty of nest boxes to redirect them.

 

The huge flocks of starlings you see over the winter are native ones but mostly those that have come from mainland Europe. These ones have now gone "home" and our residents are getting ready to nest.
Agree the noise can be very annoying (we have sparrows that nest under our roof tiles) but removing the nests while being used is illegal in the UK as others have pointed out.